C's Hayward likely to pick up player option

I think you and I can safely say a $34 million player option for Hayward is getting picked up for next season. When you talk to people, the assumption is he will pick that up. Obviously, with the way the salary cap uncertainty is, there aren’t going to be as many teams with cap space, to begin with, this offseason. A lot of them are younger teams that Hayward probably wouldn’t be a great fit on. I think he picks up the player option. I think that’s safe.

Source: Jay King of The Athletic via HoopsHype Podcast with Mike Scotto

ANALYSIS: Gordon Hayward has obviously not been the same player since suffering a gruesome leg injury on opening night with the C's two years ago. So it is very unlikely that any team would offer Hayward this amount of money, which is why all signs would point to him picking up his player option worth $34 million.

Hayward had a solid year with the Celtics though, as he averaged 17.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game for Boston. Expect Hayward back in a Celtics uniform at the start of next season.